Work on Eastern Road bridge into Portsmouth starts next week

Portsmouth council staff take 31,000 sick days off a year

A SCHEME costing millions of pounds to prevent structural damage to a bridge is due to start on Monday.

Work on the Eastern Road Water Bridge, in Portsmouth, begins on Monday and is being carried out to prevent structural damage. It will see corrosion-resistant paint applied.

The project is taking place to prevent further damage to the bridge, which is one of the major routes on and off Portsea Island.

Structural concrete repairs and general improvement work may also take place at the same time.

A barge will be used to put up scaffolding from underneath the bridge to avoid disrupting road users. There will be some lane closures as part of the scheme but these will be outside the rush hour and drivers will be warned in advance. There will also be some temporary footpath closures and diversions will be signposted.

Councillor Jim Fleming, cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: ‘It is really important that we invest in this work to protect the bridge from further corrosion and ensure it continues to provide a safe route on and off the island.’